Ear holder and gripper



Sept. 19, 1933. F. w. DoUTHrrT 1,927,603

EAR HOLDER AND GRIPPER Original Sept. 2 l

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Sept. 19, 1933 F. w. Dou'rHrrT 1,927,603

EAR HOLDER AND G'RIPPEH.-

Original Filed Sept V18 1929 '2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented sept.Y l19, 1933 I Y 111,927,603 AEAR HOLDER AND GItIPPERY Frank W. Doufhitt, ortonv'ilie, Minn.

Ampli'catic-n` September 18, 1929, Serial No.V

393,429. vRenewed November 28, 1931 v13r claims; (c1. 13o- 9) invention disclosedand broadly claimed in my' pending" vapplicationv entitled Ear holder for corn cutting machines, `led January 11, 19294 under Serial Number 331,857. i. To the above'end, generally stated, the inventi'on consists of the novel devices and combina-l tions ci devices vhereinafter 'described and `defined in the claims. y In the accompanying drawings. which illustrate the invention, like characters indicate like parts throughout they several views. v Referring to the drawings: y Y Fig. 1 is a plan "View of two gangjcorn cutting machines havingvthe invention embodied there- Fig-2 is a'plan view of one of theunits of one of the gang corn cutting machines, on` an enlarged scale-with some parts shown in diierent positions by means of broken lines;

Fig. 3 isa view" partly in side. partly in central vertical section taken on the line 7-7 o'Fig. 2'; 'j v Figfll is a View partly in rear elevation and partly in transverse vertical section taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2 and showing anear on the closed'gripper and guide; Y

Fig. 5 is a View corresponding'to Fig. 4- with the` exception that the gripper and holder is u open, and the ear deposited'therein;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detail view partly-'fin elevation and partly in transversevertical section taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 2; and 'i Fig. 7 isa fragmentary detail View partly in elevation and partly in transverse vertical section rtaken onfthe line 7--7 of Figj.V A -k In Fig. l is shown two laterally spacedgang green corn cutting machinesr indicated by the numeral 8 and each machine, as shownfincludes two complete; units. rIhese machines are dis-V closed `and'broadly claimed in my pending application @Gang corn cutting machines,'lled l August 9,1928, under ,Serial Number 298,565.-v

Overlying theadjacent units of' each machine 8 and supported from the frame thereof is a'work .table 9 having in its top, overe'ach'unit, apassageway 10 through which ears of corn are` sucpassageway. 10.

elevation and y X to the work tables 9, there is mountedbetween p the two machines 8 anv` endless belt conveyor 11, the uppercr operative section of .which is substantially in a plane above the tops of said tables. At the backs of the machines 8, on the frames thereof, are guide railsl 412provided to prevent the ears, on the conveyor 11, from dropping of the same. yFormedin the guardrails 12, between adjacent units'of each machine 8,

the tables 9.' Surrounding each passagewaylo, at its longitudinal edges and rearend, isan up.-

standing ear positioning flange 14, in the form of 'a 'U-shapedangle bar supported on the top of the tables 9 andrigidly secured thereto. This positioning flange 14 also prevents. ears X from being accidentally scraped or pushed yinto the The frameof each machine 8' may be of any suitable rigid structure and, as shown, only the I front and Arear longitudinal members 15 thereof are illustrated and onl whichjmembers the tops f of the tables 9 are supported and attached. As

each unit of each machine is identical', the one with the other, the description of the one will case it will only be necessary tobriefly describe one of the units `exceptits ear gripperv and guide. Referring now in detail tooneof the units, as

'suffice for the other, and for the purposeof this best shown in Figs.l 2 and 3. The numeral 16 -f indicates a cutter head lcomprising a head plate '1'7 having a feed -passageway'"18, aniris cutter.

19, an iris vdepth gauge jZOfand iris diaphragm 21 for closing said passageway.

and the passagewayy 18. The .'cutter19. and diaphragm 21 are carried by main arms'22- inter# inediately pivoted tothe head plate lZ .at the r.back thereof,l and the depth gauge '1i-s'carried by supplemental arms v123 on said main arms'.

Said main arms22 are connected for 'common l.oscillatory movement by a shift ring' 5M mounted on the head plate 17- and yieldingly held Vby springs25 with the cutter T19, depth lgauge; `20 a and diaphragm 21 contracted. The aligned axis p of the passageway ,18,cutter 19,'depth gauge 20 x and diaphragm 21 'extends horizontally and longitudinallyof the machine.

jg The cutterjhead 16 extends transversely oil: the I Vfnachine 8 yand is"rigidly secured by'lorackets 26 the framemernbers l'15. This cutter head 16 is' .fully ascribed andfbro'adlyv claimed in nmy 32 andwill support said ear in case-the same 1 is not properly placed on the gripperland guideV 32.

During the retracting movement of the plunger' 27 its cam head 55 engages the cam surfaces 54 and opens the wings 33 and hence the gate 51 and causes the placed ear X to. drop into the open gripper and guide'32 during the period of v rest of said plunger. V'At the'completion of -this period of rest,v the cam head 55,` during thev initial projecting movement of the plunger 27, is withdrawn from between the cam surfaces 55 vand thereby permits the springs 47 to close the wings 33 onto the ear and thereby automatically and substantially centers the same with the cutter head 16 forward of the plunger 27.

Stop pins 56 are arranged to ybe engaged by the gate sections5l and limit the opening movey ment of the wings 33.

While an ear X is'thus held, the rearl end thereof is engaged by the advancing plunger 27 vwhich forces its barb 30 therein and feeds the ear lon'- gitudinally in the gripper and guide -32 to the cutter 17. As the front end 'portion of the ear enters the iris depth Ygauge 20, it expands the same and thereby automatically positions the blades of the cutter 19 for action'on the ear X. During the advancing movement of the ear X by the plunger 27, the kernels are removed from the cob by the cutter'19 and drop onto a travelling conveyor or into a receptacle, not

shown, provided to receive the same. The diaphragm 2l prevents the kernels from following the cob as they are cut therefrom thus preventing waste. In case the gripper and guide 32 is closed, as shown in Fig. 5, by the time the operator places an ear in the passageway 10 said ear will be deposited directly in said gripper and guide. f

Incase an ear, in'thegripper and' guide 32, is

of medium size, it will be held substantially7A aligned with the depth gauge 20, but in case the ear is large, it will be considerably out of alignment therewith. In this case the ear, as the same is forced into the cutter head 16, will bel moved laterally and in turn move the front .end

portion of the gripper and guide 32 downward, which is held for oating movement, by the toggle lever 38, and thereby bring 'the gripper and guide into alignment with the cutter head 16r to prevent binding between the ear andy gripper`v and guide which would interfere with the feeding of the ear. As the wings33 are yieldingly clamped onto the ear therein, said wings will yield in case a lateral horizontal movement is imparted to the ear during its movement into the cutter head 16. f

The above method of placing an earin the passageway 10 and on the closed gripper and guide 32 eliminates all danger ofy the operator being hurt. By. adjusting the tension of the springs 47 the wings 33 may be caused to grip an ear of corn, with the desired pressure, to center the same but permit free feeding movement therethrough without 'undue lpressure-required to operate the plunger 27. v

What I claim is: Y v 1. In a corn cutting machine, the combination with a cutter head, of an ear gripper and Aguide comprising a pair of wings, a toggle lever setr vertically edgewise transversely ofV the gripper and guide, said Wings at their front ends being journaled on the toggle lever, apost on 'one of the arms of .the toggle lever extending `in thev direction of the movement thereof, and a spring anchored to a relatively iixed support in respect means. a

tothe toggle lever attachedftovlsaid post andr yieldinglyholding the toggle lever in one `of its'l A extreme positions. c 2. They-structure'- post to vary its' tension.

`3. The combination with a a passageway, of an ear holder and guidev underV the passageway andcomprisingf upwardly ex'- tendedwings mounted for opening and closing'.

movements, said wingswhen closed beingarv c defined in 'claim 9v which the spring is longitudinallyadjustable ionftlie-f so e.

work tab-1e having,`

ranged to externally support an ear placedthereon through the passageway .in the table, said' x table being arrangedjto'prevent accidental escape'v of an ear between the table and: holder andfgui'de Y 4. The structure de'nedin claim 3 whichfurf" ther includes a'guard surrounding vthepassage- Way in the table. `v

5. A tubular ear holder v andjuguide comprising l a pair of outwardly andtransversely ybowed c wings mounted for opening andl closingv move- -ments and having lockgrooves in their longitudi"^" nal edges, and gates forming coverings'pforthe" wings `and having lockfanges'seated in thelockioo.

grooves to attach the gates to' thefwings.

6. In a corn cutting machine, 'the' combination of a stationary ear supporting table having ra feed opening therethrough; ear holdingy means located beneath the openinginlthe table and adjacent the underside of said table, said ear holding means having members mounted'foropening and closing movements and lshaped on their l,

Aouter faces to substantially close, 'said'opening when said members aretogetlier andsupport an" ear thereon", and said members having their inner A y. faces shaped to receive vthe reartherebetween when said members aref separated, and centervand f with said vear receiving means in alinement ,therewith, and means for feeding the lear from ,the receiving means into and through thel cutting 7. In a .corn tion` of a stationary ear-'supporting table having a feed opening therethrough, an ear receiving means located beneath the opening in said table, saidfeed opening being so sized as to receive' one Vcarat a 'time and direct the same'` toV -said Y earV receiving vmeans, said ear receiving means including opposed devices having meansy for supporting an ear when in closed position while in said opening, acorn cutting means associated with said ear receiving means, andv means for feedingfthe ear from said receiving means and'into and through said cutting means.

8.In a corn `cutting machine, thecombination of a stationary ear supporting table having lcutting machine, the combinaguide theear, a corn cutting means associated a feed opening therethrough,ear receiving means located beneath the opening in said `table `and adjacent the under side of said table, said feed opening being so sized as to receive one 'ear at a time and direct the same to said ear receiving means, said ear receivingmeans including members adapted to be moved away from each other 1,40

for receiving the ear therebetween for centering and guiding saidean said members being constructed so as'to support the ear when in closed positionwhile theear isV in said opening, a y corn cutting means associated lwith said ear reist receiving-means associated with eachopening,

each opening being so sized. as to receive one'ear at a time and direct the saine to theearreceiving means associated therewith, said ear receiving means including opposed' devices having` means forisupporting the ear, Whenin closed position while-the ear is ijnisaid opennga corn cutting means-associated with each ear receiv-v ing means, vand means for successively feeding the ears frornjsaid.receivingmeans into and through fthe cutting'` means. c

,i 10. YA-Y cornfcutting machine comprising a stationaryear receiving and supporting table having a plurality or openingstherethrough,v anA ear receiving means associated With.,each opening andlocated beneath said table adjacent the under sidethereoi ea'ch'opening being so sized as to receive one earat a time anddirect the same tothe earreceiving meansassociated therewith,

said ear receiving; meansy including opposed devices', having means orsupporting an ear When inclosed position whilejin saidV opening, a corn cutting meansv associated with each ear receive 'Y ing .means and devicesQop-erating alternately "to separate first oner ear receiving meansiand then the other so that the ear supportedthereon vvillV fall between said devices into alinement with the cutting means and to feed the ear from said ear receiving means into and through the cutting means associated therewith.

'11. Infa corn c uttingmachine, the combina--V tionof a stationary ear supportingl table havvingnayieed opening therethrough, an earrreceiving means located ,beneath the opening insaid v table, said feed opening heingiso sized as' to receve oneear at a time and direct t e same to said ear receiving means, said ear receiving means including opposed devices having. meansforsup- A'livorting an ear when 1in closed position While in' 740)'. A* *Y .M

said opening,v a corn cutting meansYas`SC2Lte-d` with said ear receiving meansfandmeansffor`- feeding the ear from said receiving means and intoA andthrough said cutting means,` said table having a laterally `projecting' portionv surround`A ing said opening for Iaiding in positioninguthe ear` in the openingjon'the iear receiving meansi 122. In acorn cutting machine, the lcombina,V

tion 'ofaistationary ear-supporting table hav v Y a feed opening located Withinthe limits of lthev table and extending"therethrough, anv ear receiving, meanslocated beneath the opening inf said table, vsaid feed opening being so sized asl to width andlength as to receive oneear ata time and directthe same tothe ear receiving' means, jsaid earreceivingvmeans including opposed devices having lmeans for supporting any ear when in closed *position while the ear is inr said opening,a corn cutting means*associated` with rsaid ear receiving means, and Ameans for feeding the ear from the receiving means into` and through the cutting means.

13. A corn cutting machineincluding afpaiir` ear receiving means, said ear receiving means j including opposed devices having means for sup-V porting an ear when in closed position kvvhile the ear is in said opening, and means for suc-v cessively feeding the ears from the receiving meansy into and` through the cutting, devices.

FRANK DoUTHiT'r. 

